September 29th Weekly Blog

The concept of confidence emerges as a central theme in this boundary-setting process. True confidence isn't about self-reliance in isolation but about trusting in God's ability working through us. As Hebrews 10:35 reminds us, "Do not throw away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward." This verse encourages us to maintain confidence not in ourselves alone, but in the work God is doing in and through us. The enemy actively works to undermine this confidence, using our insecurities, failures, and shortcomings against us. When we allow our past experiences to define our future possibilities, we're essentially rejecting God's grace and settling for mere survival.

Our thought life plays a crucial role in establishing faithful boundaries. I challenge you to examine whether your thought patterns align more with Galatians 5's fruits of the Spirit or works of the flesh. Are we cultivating seeds of faith or seeds of trauma? This examination reveals whether our boundaries are creating an atmosphere conducive to spiritual growth or merely reinforcing our limitations. For many, childhood trauma has established distorted schemas through which we interpret all subsequent experiences. What was meant to be a temporary protection mechanism becomes a permanent lens that rejects good as bad and familiar as safe, even when familiar is harmful.

One of the most profound insights is that God never intended for us to see ourselves in isolation from Him. The enemy wants us to evaluate our capabilities and identity outside of Christ, while God invites us to recognize who we are in Him. This perspective shift is transformative because it moves our confidence from our limited abilities to God's unlimited power working through us. As Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The emphasis isn't on our strength but on His anointing that empowers us.

The journey toward faith-based boundaries often requires confronting areas of our lives we've avoided. Like Jacob who fled from Esau but eventually had to return and face him as a changed man, God sometimes leads us back to unresolved situations—not to punish us but to complete our healing. These moments become sacred opportunities for growth when we approach them with prayer and obedience to God's leading. The path may not be easy, but God promises to make the crooked ways straight and to never leave or forsake us, even in the valley of the shadow of death.